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Bemidji State women's hockey sweeps Mankato

The Bemidji State women's hockey team outlasted 15 shots and four penalty kills in the second period to down Minnesota State Mankato 3-1 Saturday, completing a Western Collegiate Hockey Association road sweep and earning four points on the weekend.

The last time the Beavers earned four points over a weekend while on the road was on Dec. 16-17, 2006, against North Dakota.

"It was a really great team effort," said head coach Steve Sertich. "We got a such great effort from all our players, especially in the second period when we had all the penalties."

One of the reasons the Beavers were able to survive the second period was the play of sophomore goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova, who made 30 saves on the day, including 15 in the second period. She also helped kill off seven of eight penalties, including a five-on-three to start the period.

"We were short for the majority of the period and she was the difference for us," Sertich said. "She kept the puck out of the net and got us into the third period."

At the end of two periods the game was scoreless with the Beavers being outshot 24-12.

All of the game's four goals came in the third period. BSU's Emily Erickson scored first, netting her second goal of the year. Minnesota State answered just under a minute later as Ashley Young scored a power-play goal.

After the special teams spent most of the day on the penalty kill for the Beavers, they switched things up, scoring their first power-play goal of the weekend. Erin Johnson scored the goal off of a scramble in front of the net. Johnson added an insurance goal late in the third, putting home an empty-netter.

Erika Wheelhouse assisted on each of the Beavers' three goals.

"She did not look like a freshman tonight," said Sertich. "She played at another level and I don't think we have ever had a freshman play that well for us before."

Bemidji State will play host to St. Cloud State on Friday at 7:07 p.m. and on Saturday at 2:07 p.m. at the John Glas Fieldhouse.